The present disclosure relates to motor-driven chain saws. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a saw chain and saw chain teeth for a motor-driven chain saw.
Typical saw chains in the art include cutting links, connecting links, and drive links. The links are pivotally connected to one another via rivets. The cutting links can be scoring cutters or clearing cutters. Cutting links include 1) low profile cutters, which typically have a round radius edge and grind profile; 2) semi-chisel cutters, which also have a round radius edge and round grind edge; 3) full-chisel cutters, which have a square radius edge and a round grind profile; and 4) square chisel cutters, which have a square radius and square grind profile. Accordingly, several types of chains also exist, including 1) a full-house saw chain; 2) a full-skip saw chain; 3) a semi-skip saw chain; 4) a square ground saw chain; and 5) a ripping saw chain.
Notably, each cutting link has a depth gauge. The depth gauge sets the depth or thickness of the chip that will be produced by the cutting corner when it hooks and then severs fiber. Depth gauges function as a safety feature by regulating the size of the chip, which regulates the severity of reactive forces (i.e., kickback). The thicker the chip, the more severe the potential kickback. In the prior art, the depth gauge is positioned to gauge from the center of the kerf, which limits the depth of the scoring cutters, thereby limiting the amount of fiber that is clearable using the clearing cutters. Due the to the position of the gauge and the shape of the clearing teeth in the prior art, wood cutting remains inefficient. Therefore, there remains a need in the industry for a tooth-gauging system and tooth shape that allows a saw chain to cut faster and remain sharper for longer periods of time. The present invention seeks to solve these, and other, problems.
In one embodiment, a saw chain tooth comprises a heel having a coupling aperture, a toe having a coupling aperture, a gullet, a depth gauge, and a side plate forming a cutting corner; wherein the depth gauge and the cutting corner are in the same vertical geometric plane so that the depth gauge enters a scoring groove formed by the cutting corner, within the kerf.
In one embodiment, a saw chain tooth comprises a heel having a coupling aperture, a toe having a coupling aperture, a gullet, a depth gauge, a side plate, and top plate; wherein the side plate and the top plate form a cutting corner, the top plate having an angled chisel extending therefrom at about a 45-degree angle, and wherein the depth gauge and the cutting corner are in the same vertical geometric plane. In one embodiment, the angled chisel is serrated.
In one embodiment, a saw chain tooth comprises a heel having a coupling aperture, a toe having a coupling aperture, a gullet, a depth gauge, a side plate, and top plate; wherein the side plate forms a blade of a first length on the end proximal to the depth gauge, wherein after the first length of the blade, the top plate and side plate form a cutting corner, the top plate having an angled chisel extending therefrom; and wherein the depth gauge and the blade are in the same vertical geometric plane.
In one embodiment, a saw chain scoring cutter comprises a gauge in the same vertical geometric plane as a side plate so that the gauge is received within a scoring groove of the kerf.
In one embodiment, a saw chain chisel cutter comprises a top plate and a gauge in the same vertical geometric plane as a side plate; wherein the top plate has a cutting corner at about a 45-degree angle and a chisel running the length of the top plate. In one embodiment, the chisel is serrated.
In one embodiment, a saw chain chisel cutter comprises a top plate, a side plate, and a gauge in the same vertical geometric plane as the side plate; the side plate forms a blade of a first length on the end proximal to the depth gauge, wherein after the first length of the blade, the top plate and side plate form a cutting corner, wherein the angle of the cutting corner is an acute angle.
The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not to be considered limiting in scope. Any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
Reference to the drawings is done throughout the disclosure using various numbers. The numbers used are for the convenience of the drafter only and the absence of numbers in an apparent sequence should not be considered limiting and does not imply that additional parts of that particular embodiment exist. Numbering patterns from one embodiment to the other need not imply that each embodiment has similar parts, although it may.
Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad, ordinary, and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. For exemplary methods or processes, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive.
It should be understood that the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence, arrangement, or with any particular graphics or interface. Indeed, the steps of the disclosed processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
The term “coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).
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Exemplary embodiments are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/575,149, filed on Oct. 20, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62575149 | Oct 2017 | US |